The following organizations have information available, and conduct research. This list is not intended as an endorsement or a complete listing of all such organizations. For a list of companies that sell items such as large-button phones, talking clocks, or computers with speech or large-print output, or other items which are helpful to people who are visually impaired, please see our other resource lists.
American Academy of Ophthalmology
PO Box 7424
San Francisco, CA 94120-7424
(415) 561-8500
Fax: (415) 561-8533
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.aao.org/
This is a very informative website. Click on “For Public and Patients” to find information and to search for an ophthalmologist. They are unable to answer individual questions about medical problems or conditions.
American Macular Degeneration Foundation
P.O. Box 515
Northampton, MA 01061-0515
Phone: (413) 268-7660
Toll-free: 1-888-MACULAR (1-888-622-8527)
To send email, go to https://www.macular.org/contact-us.
Website: https://www.macular.org/
The American Macular Degeneration Foundation (AMDF) can help you learn about and live with Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), offering you healthy living tips, the latest information, and ways to honor those touched by macular disease, while supporting researchers working to prevent, treat and cure macular degeneration and Stargardt disease.
Choroideremia Research Foundation
23 E. Brundreth St.
Springfield, MA 01109-2110
Toll-free: 1-800-210-0233
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.curechm.org/
Choroideremia is an inherited retinal-degenerative disease that causes progressive vision loss leading to blindness. CRF’s mission is to accelerate research leading to a treatment or cure of choroideremia, to educate people affected by the disease, and to inform the public. Toward this goal, CRF has granted approximately $4 million in research funding, and provides virtual and in-person patient and family support resources and programs.
Council of Citizens with Low Vision International (CCLVI)
3817 Tuesday Way
Louisville, KY 40219
Phone: (502) 905-0869
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://cclvi.info/
Has information on technology and services for individuals with low vision, advocates for the visually impaired, and publishes “Vision Access,” a quarterly magazine containing information on living with low vision. “Vision Access” is available to members in large print, on cassette and via e-mail. CCLVI’s mentoring and peer counseling program, Project Insight, is for people who are newly visually impaired or losing more vision. The program is available nationwide. CCLVI advocates for low-vision issues, provides information and referral, as well as scholarships for college students with visual acuity less than 20/70 or who are planning to provide low vision services. Further information about CCLVI is available on the web site.
Fight For Sight
381 Park Ave. S., Suite 1119
New York, NY 10016
(212) 679-6060
Website: https://fightforsight.org/
Fight for Sight provides crucial funding to promising new researchers before they are able to receive grants from governmental sources and large private foundations.
The Foundation Fighting Blindness
6925 Oakland Mills Road, #701
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 423-0600
Toll-free: 1-800-683-5555
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.fightingblindness.org/
The mission of the Foundation Fighting Blindness is to drive the research that will provide preventions, treatments and cures for people affected by retinitis pigmentosa (RP), macular degeneration, Usher syndrome, and the entire spectrum of retinal degenerative diseases.
Glaucoma Research Foundation
251 Post St., Suite 600
San Francisco, CA 94108
(415) 986-3162
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://glaucoma.org/
The Glaucoma Research Foundation is a national non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of glaucoma patients and finding a cure for glaucoma. The web site is loaded with information about the different types of glaucoma, symptoms, tests, risk factors, various treatments, research progress, and support resources.
Macular Degeneration Foundation
PO Box 531313
Henderson, NV 89053
(702) 450-2908
Toll-free: 1-888-633-3937
To send an email message, go to https://eyesight.org/contact-information/
Website: https://eyesight.org/
The Macular Degeneration Foundation is dedicated to those who have and will develop macular degeneration. Services include links to resources such as low vision centers, therapists, physicians, and support groups in your area. The Foundation also gives financial support to researchers investigating treatments and others helping those coping with the challenges of living with the loss of their central vision.
The Macular Degeneration Partnership
c/o The Gavin Herbert Eye Institute
University of California, Irvine
850 Health Sciences Rd.
Irvine, CA 92697-4375
Phone: (949) 824-9771
Website: http://www.ucirvineamd.org/index.html
They are dedicated to making sure that you and your family members have the best information available to you and all the tools you need to live well with AMD. Offers tips on improving daily life for folks with AMD.
MD Support
460 SW Tower Park Dr.
Lee’s Summit, MO 64081
(816) 588-7747
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://mdsupport.org/
Provides information and support for people who are affected by macular degeneration and similar retinal diseases. Offers a public awareness program designed to reach people who are without Internet access. Has a bookstore, run in cooperation with Amazon Books, featuring books on macular degeneration and other books of interest. Also has information on current clinical trials.
National Eye Institute
Information Office
31 Center Dr. MSC 2510
Bethesda, MD 20892-2510
(301) 496-5248
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.nei.nih.gov/
Has information on visual impairment, supports training of eye researchers, and conducts research on eye and vision disorders. If you have any questions, problems or concerns about placing an order or about an existing order, please send e-mail to [email protected]. This office cannot diagnose diseases, offer specific treatment recommendations, or provide physician referrals.
National Organization for Rare Disorders
1900 Crown Colony Dr., Suite 310
Quincy, MA 02169
Phone: (617) 249-7300
To send email, go to: https://rarediseases.org/contact-us/
Website: https://rarediseases.org/
NORD is a federation of voluntary health groups which help people and groups regarding rare “orphan” diseases. By educational, advocacy, research and service programs, NORD works on identification, treatment, and cure of these disorders.
Prevent Blindness America
211 W. Wacker Dr., Suite 400
Chicago, IL 60606
Toll-free: 1-800-331-2020
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://preventblindness.org/
Provides informational brochures on eye conditions, conducts public and professional education programs on prevention of blindness and maintains the Fight for Sight Research Center.
Research to Prevent Blindness
360 Lexington Avenue, 22nd Floor
New York, NY 10017
(212) 752-4333
Toll-free: 1-800-621-0026
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.rpbusa.org/rpb/
RPB provides major eye research funding to more than 50 leading scientific institutions in the U.S. and supports the work of hundreds of talented vision scientists engaged in a diverse range of disease-oriented research. Has a number of fact sheets on its website, focusing on eye health, macular degeneration, cataract, diabetic retinopathy, dry eye, glaucoma, and low vision. Also publishes a quarterly newsletter, “Eye Research News.”
The Eye-Bank for Sight Restoration
120 Wall St.
New York, NY 10005
(212) 742-9000
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.eyedonation.org/
Collects and distributes healthy donated corneas for transplantation. Publishes quarterly newsletter, “Eye to Eye.” Offers scholarships for post-secondary education.
Updated May 2, 2023